“Long live our Emperor! Long live! Long live!”

The common people respectfully cleared a path. Several palanquins appeared, all adorned with magnificent canopies. The first one shone with dazzling bright imperial yellow, while the following three were different shades of dark red, ink blue, and deep purple. One must belong to Quan Feitong, while the others belonged to unknown dignitaries.

However, no matter how brilliant these colors were—like thousands of trees blooming with countless vibrant flowers—they couldn’t compare to that first touch of gold. That was supreme dominance, that was the conquest of the world, so piercing it hurt her eyes.

Oh, Lian Yu—destroyer of the Feng family, ransacker of the Fu household, executioner of the Liu clan. What a ruthless sovereign.

“All rise.”

A voice came from the first palanquin. The tone sounded composed and dignified, yet strangely familiar. Su Zhen smiled coldly—she hated him to such a degree that she could recognize him before even meeting him!

She rose with the crowd as the palanquins stopped inside the execution ground. Before Lian Yu and others could emerge, Leng Xue suddenly grabbed her forcefully and dragged her out of the execution ground.

“Oh, brother, I think I saw that ugly boy…”

She vaguely heard a puzzled voice from behind. Her heart was full of pain and hatred, and she couldn’t overcome Leng Xue’s strength, so she didn’t investigate further and just followed him.

Back at the inn, she punched Leng Xue in the chest and demanded angrily, “Why did you bring me back?”

Leng Xue replied coldly, “Didn’t you see your own expression just now? Just like the princess—wanting to tear people apart. If I hadn’t brought you away, can you guarantee you wouldn’t have rushed forward and done something? If I hadn’t brought you away, would you have ended up joining Minister Fu and the others?”

Su Zhen was startled and collapsed dejectedly onto the bed, staring fixedly at her toes.

Even Leng Xue could see clearly that she wasn’t qualified to face Lian Yu. She couldn’t even remain calm watching him from afar—what revenge could she speak of? Before killing him, she must love him. Like a loyal minister respecting and loving him, only then could she be of use to him.

And she hadn’t even met him yet.

Not knowing how much time passed, she pulled a book from the pile at the head of the bed—one she’d bought after arriving in the capital, as she couldn’t bring the books from home.

She said softly, “Leng Xue, I’m going to read. Please help me buy some paper, spirit money, incense, and candles. I want to hold a memorial for my parents, elder brother, Hong Xiao, and Uncle Fu Jingshu’s family.”

Leng Xue touched her head and then left.

She thought… next year during Qingming with its apricot blossom rain, there should be my tears embedded in the clouds. With no one in the room, Su Zhen covered her mouth tightly and finally couldn’t help crying softly.

After a long while, she finally opened the book in her hands and began studying it carefully.

She had read these Four Books and Five Classics in her youth, but never thought there would come a day when she’d use them for reference. Over the years, she understood the reasoning in these books more and more, though some passages had grown blurry. Now she naturally needed to review them.

And then, days passed one by one.

The closer the examination period approached, the calmer Su Zhen’s heart became, as if even her hatred for Lian Yu had dissolved in the fragrance of books and ink.

Books were indeed wonderful things.

There were no unusual occurrences around them, and Lian Xin hadn’t come to cause trouble either. Everything was so peaceful it seemed there would never be more nightmares or storms.